Silo press



April 1 924.

r. M. c; UsHER' SILO miss Filed Au 23. 1921 Fatented Apr. 1, i924.

tlhllTED FRANCIS M. C. USHER, OF FULTON, KENTUCKY.

SILO PRESS.

Application filed August 23, 1921. Serial No. 494,458.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. C. USHER, citizen of the United States, residing at Fulton, in the county of Fulton and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Silo Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to silo presses, and is for the same general purposes and of like operation with silos of ordinary construction. I

Those silos with which this applicant is acquainted are vertical towers with subordinate details variously formed and arranged. It is believed that a much cheaper and more convenient structure would result by disposing the casing or body of the silo, made up of creosoted wood, preferably. either square or cylindrical, in a horizontal position. In a horizontal position the silo may be covered with earth piled over it, or it may be sunken in the earth, and it is believed the ensilage will keep and ferment better, and be held at a more even temperature, and thatit will not freeze. It is further believed that the casing of a silo arranged and embedded in earth as stated would last longer, and that it would not dry and'fall apart so soon. Further, and in the opinion of this applicant, a manifest and desirable advantage of the horizontal construction lies in the fact thatit is very much more easy to fill and at a materially reduced cost, which is an important item in present practice, and the horizontal disposition of the casing renders it especially accessible when the ensilage is to be withdrawn for feeding.

The particular construction and arrangement of the different parts of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. 1 represents a lengthwise and vertical section exhibiting all the parts assembled. Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the top of the casing showing the dump openings and the closures or doors therefor. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on broken line l-e of Fig. 8 and shows a temporary cover or bridge for the dump openings when it is desired to drive a team over them, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Throughout the drawings and explanation the same letter is used to refer to the same part.

tion mentioned. Creosoted boards are found to be most durable.

The top C of the casing A near its end has the dump openings D and d, provided with suitable doors E and e which when closed exclude the air. At the sides of the openings are portions F and 7 of the top extending transversely and affording track r support for a vehicle drawn or backed over the openings to dump the material into the casing through the openings.

Fitting the casing interiorly and movable therein is a presser head G which is stoutly constructed and provided with an upwardly inclined front 9. To the presser head G are attached the two parts H and h of a cable. The part 71. of the cable passing to the left hand in Fig. 1 turns over the pulley 71. and is taken up by the Windlass J having the operating handle 7'. By means of the windlass J the presser head G maybe drawn in a direction from the right or casing door K, and past the dump openings 1) and (Z thus enabling the materials to be dumped through the openings upon the floor or bottom of the casing into the position indicated by the dotted hyperbolic line in Fig. 1. One important function of the inclined face of the presser head is its effectiveness in keeping the dump openings clear within the casing of hanging and entangled pieces of material, which always catch and hold upon the frame and crosspiece of the dump opening. It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the upper front edge of the presser head is relatively a sharp edge. The door K at the right hand end of the casing A in Fig. 1 must necessarily withstand internal pressure, and tie pivoted clamping devices are introduced to secure the door against the internal pressure. In Fig. 1 it will be noted that the cable H passes through the door K and is taken up by a capstan L operated by the bar Z in the common manner. It is not intended to limit this invention to any special means for actuating the presser head G in either direc tion, as there are a number of mechanical oontrivances Well known that could be employed for the purpose.

In a large silo the closing door K may be of some considerable size and correspondingly heavy, and this invention contemplates the provision of a carrier bracket M and roller m as illustrated in Fig. 1 by which the Weight of the door when moved may be supported upon suitable track N.

In the operation of this invention, the fodder is dumped into the casing through the dump openings D and (i. This may be accomplished by providing an earth incline P as shoWn in F 2 up which a truck may be driven or backed. To protect the Wooden edges of the silo, projecting iron brackets 0 may be introduced at the sides as also shown in Fig. 3. If a truck is used it isnot difi'icult to so direct-the vehicle as'to compel its Wheels to follow the tracks or supports F and 7' at the sides of the dump openings. But, in the case of a horse-drawn vehicle it maybe necessary to provide the Well known expedient of a temporary cover Q, as illustrated in Fig. d to temporarily cover the dump openings until thehorses have passed over and the vehicle is located as desired tor dumping. Obviously, it is practicable to drive the horses and vehicle over the closed doors E and e, and to open those doors a't'te the rear Wheels of the vehicle have moved far enough to permit. 'With a slatted dumping Wagon or truck the wheels rest upon the tracks F and f. In other words. Whatever may be the character of the dumping vehicle employed, the material can be deposited through the openings D and (Z upon the bottom of the casing as indicated by the broken line and in front of the presser head G. Upon moving the presser head'to the right, the upwardly inclined front 9 forces the materials towards the door K, and compresses the endof the contents of the casing on an incline as indicated by the slanting broken line in Fig. 1, Upon pressing further loads of material to the right in the casing, the inclined front 9 operates to spread the load upwardly over the end of that already compressed. It will be understood that the presser head fits the casing interiorly and prevents the entrance of air from the left hand end of the casing, but it is believed to be Within the scope of this invention to close that end also by any chosen means if found desirable. The doors E and close the dump openings as already explained.

Having now described this invention and explained the mode of its operation, what I claim is 1. In a horizontal silo press, the combination With a casing horizontally disposed, of a removable door at one end of the casing, devices for securing the door against internal pressure, a presser head fitting the casing interiorly and movable therein. the said presser head having an upwardl -g inclined front, the said casing having a dump opening in its top, closures for the said opening, means for moving the presser head in the casing, and the upper edge of the said inclined front oi the presser head being arranged to scrape the edges of the dump opening Within the casing to clear the same of obstructing material.

2. In a horizontal silo press, the combination with a casing horizontally arranged and embedded in the earth to permit vehicles to be driven upon the casing. of a removable door at one end of the casing, devices for securing the door against internal pressure, the said casing having a dump opening in its top, the said dump opening being provided on both sides of the casing eateriorly with attachments for protecting the edges or" the casing from injury by vehicle Wheels, a presser head fitting the casing interiorly and movable therein, and means for moving the presser head Within the casing.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my si nature.

FRANCIS M. C. USHER. 

